Frame-supported hopper



May 9, 1950 B. NEIGHBOUR ET AL FRAME-SUPPORTED HOPPER Filed Nov. 30, 1945 A TTORNE YS.

INVENTORS $5M Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATE-S 'PATENT "OFF --SUPPORTED HOPPER Leonard" -B';- Neighbour, Moline, and 'Hen'ry'E. aKorumpEast Moline, Ill., assignors to'Deere fiz" Company,Molina-:11! a corporation-of- Illinois AppiicationNovember 30, 1915'; Serial No. 63%,015

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to tubular frame construction, and more particularly-to frame oonstruction'ofthe type'applied to hoppers, bins, enclosures, and the likerand ha's for its-principalo'bject the provision of: novel and improved frame construction'whichis simpler in design, lighter in weight, and easie'r'to assemble and disassemble than frame construction heretofore known to those skilled in the art.

Another object relates to the provision of a light sheet metal hopper 'having a light but sturdy tubular frame and an inwardly and downwardly tapering sheetim'et'al bo'dy the hopper being supported on removable legs.v permitting a number of the hoppers to be nested together for shipping purposes, with the supporting legs removed. It is to be understood, however, that the type of construction disclosed herein is not to be limited tov hoppers -of this typ.e,.but we have found'that construction of the type disclosed hereinis well adapted to grain hoppers for: receiving grainfroma-wagon or truck and deliveringitto a blower type grain elevator.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following description, in which reference is had to the drawings appended hereto, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a hopper embodying the principles of our invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the hopper;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one corner of the tubular frame structure, showing the details of the means for interconnecting the tubular members;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of one of the elbow castings for interconnecting the tubular members;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the elbow casting shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational View of another elbow casting used in the construction of the hopper; and

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the casting shown in Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings, the hopper is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral Ill and comprises a generally rectangular peripherally extending tubular frame ll carried on a plurality of generally vertical tubular front and rear legs l2, and a sheet metal body or hopper bottom I3 depending from the peripheral frame H.

The frame I 1 comprises a pair of front and rear generally parallel straight tubular members I 5,

l6 and-a pair of for'e and -aft extending, laterally spaced; s'traighttubular side member's l1, 1'8. The adj acent ends of each pair of adjacent tubular members are interconnected'by' a right hand or left hand elbowcastiiig member 29 or 2|; Each of the elbowsZG, 2l-is in the form of ageherally cylindrical casting me-mber substantially eq'u'al in outer diameter to said tubular members and curved" substantially in -a right angle bend, each end of which 'is provided with a' stu-b 2-2- of 'r'e d'uced'diameter; Each'of the'stubs 22 is adapted to be inserted-into the adjacerivend'of'one of' the tubular frame" members and fits closely therein, and is providedwith a diametrically extending aperture 2'3,1which is adapted to register with diametrically aligned apertures- 24* in the tubular frame member associated therewith, to receive a securing bolt 25- provided witha nut'it;

Each-of the elbow castingsifl, 2| is'also provided with a depending stub 21'; formed integrally therewith; :and ha'v'irige, diametrically extending aperture 28. The dep'eifding 'stub 2'! is adaiclt'ed. to be inserted into the upper end of one of the tubular legs I2, which is provided with diametrically aligned apertures near the upper end thereof for receiving a securing bolt 30 to secure the tubular leg [2 to the elbow casting.

It will be noted that the position of the depending stub 21 on the elbow casting' is different in the two types of right and left hand castings 20, 2!, in order to offset the tubular legs inwardly from the side edges of the peripheral frame H The sheet metal hopper bottom I3 tapers downwardly and inwardly and rearwardly to direct the grain deposited therein toward a gate 32, centrally disposed in the back wall of the hopper, but the details of the gate are not an essential part of the present invention and therefore are not described herein. The upper edges of the sheet metal body l3 are curved over the top of the frame I l as indicated in Figure 2 by reference numeral 33, and are secured to the tubular frame members l5, I6, l1, l8 by means of bolts 34, which are inserted through vertically disposed apertures in the tubular frame members, and suitable registering apertures in the sheet metal. Inasmuch as the elbow castings 20, 2| are substantially flush with the frame members [5, l6, H, iii, the upper edges of the body lie smoothly over the peripheral frame. The rear legs 12 are secured to the back wall by means of lower bolts 35, indicated in Figure 2, beneath the securing bolt 30.

We claim:

1. A frame-supported hopper for the handling of bulk material such as corn, grain or the like, comprising: a plurality of straight members arranged generally in the form of a rectangle, each member being of substantially uniform cross-sectional area and shape throughout its length and each having opposite, socketed end portions of circular cross-section externally; a plurality of corner elements, each in the form of a combined ;elbow and T wherein each elbow is of circular {cross-section that has a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of a socketed end {portion of a straight member and each end of each elbowis reduced to fit and be received by the socketed end portion of an associated member, so that said members and elements when assembled provide a generally rectangular frame havin rounded corners and adapted to be disposed generally horizontally with the Ts projecting downwardly; a plurality of vertical legs, each having a socketed upper end portion within which a T fits and is received so that said legs sustain the frame; means including a plurality of imperforate walls joined together to provide a hopper depending below the general level of the frame, said Walls having top edges delineating an open top for the hopper substantially coincident in size and shape with the frame and having rounded corners respectively concentric with the frame elbows, said top edges of the walls including flanged portions lying respectively along the straight members and elbows in a substantially continuous rectangular joint that is substantially impervious to leakage of material of the type aforesaid; and means securing the hopper to the frame and maintaining said joint.

2. A frame-supported hopper for the handling of bulk material such as corn, grain or the like, comprising: a plurality of elongated frame members arranged generally in the form of an open frame, each member being of substantially uniform cross-sectional area and shape throughout its length and each having opposite, socketed end portions; a plurality of connecting elements, each in the form of a T having a crossbar and leg wherein each crossbar is of a cross-sectional shape and area substantially the same as that of a frame member and each end of each crossbar is reduced to fit and be received by the socketed end portion of an associated member, so that said members and elements when assembled provide a generally open frame in which the joints between the frame members and connecting elements are relatively smooth, said frame being adapted to be disposed generally horizontally with the legs of the Ts projecting downwardly; a pluralit of vertical supporting legs, each having a socketed upper end portion within which a T leg fits and is received so that said supporting legs sustain the frame; means including imperforate wall structure providing a hopper depending below the general level of the frame, said wall structure having a top edge delineating an open top for the hopper substantially coincident in size and shape with the frame, said top edge of the wall structure including flanged portions lying respectively along the frame members and crossbars of the connecting elements in a substantially continuous joint that is substantially impervious to leakage of material of the type aforesaid; and means securing the hopper to the frame and maintaining said joint.

LEONARD B. NEIGHBOUR. HENRY E. KQRUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 886,685 Eastman May 5, 1908 1,840,048 Michelman Jan. 5, 1932 2,066,227 Reukauf Dec. 29, 1936 2,179,400 Casner Nov. '7, 1939 amt" 

